The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-07-29
EXPERIENCES NIrH COyVICTS.
BY A MASSACHUSETTS Ex-wARDEN.


From the Youths Companion,
In 1880 boy was born in an obscure
house in what was then disreputable
street in the city of Boston. His moth
er, who was never strong, and who !
probably weakened herself from dis
patton. died before he reached his eighth
year. His father was a professional
thief, and brought his son up to follow
in his footsteps. The only education
the boy ever received was in that di-
rection.
He early developed into a shrewd,
cunning and successful thief At ten
years old he would have surprised even
the noted Mr., Fagin by his dexterity.
His career though brilliant was brief,
. 1916 father and son, the latter then
only sixteen years Of age, were commit
ted to the State Prison, the first for
five, the latter for two, years, for rob-
bing q store. In consequence of his
youth, and of his being bright, sharp
witted fellow, he received great deal
of sympathy, and was iually pardon
ed.
He was discharged from the prison
with one dollar in his pocket. He had
no home nor friend in the wide world,
outside of his criminl associates, to
whom he could apply for advice or as
aistance. As a matter of course he wey,S
back 70 his old friends.
Success attended him for some time,
but before he reached his twentieth
year he was again arrested. He had
become so noted that the District At
tOrney felt justified in pursuing an unus-
nal course-that of making each one of
eight larcenies a separate charge against
him. He was convicted upon each
count, and was sentenced to the State
Prison for thirty years.
Fortunately for him, he looked upon
the bright side. He proved to be per-
severing and Industrious, and became
an excellent workman.
Reserved and quiet, he had no COM
munication with the other conyicts, and
seldom asked favor, obeying the rules
faithfully except in one respect. Hav-
ing been once pardoned, lie had no hope,
for many years at least, in that direc-
tion; his only chance of freedom was to
escape, and he was frequently detected
IN some scheme for that purpose.
But unlike most others engaged in
such plans, no dangerous weapons were
ever found upon him. A long time of
unusual quietness, on one occasion, led
me to suspect that, like the calm, it was
the forerunner of a storm. became
satisfied that he was making quiet
preparations to escape, but how or in
what manner could not conceive He
had nothing in his cell except a table,
high cricket and Bible. / had examined
these very carefully many times with
out being able to discover anything
wrong.
One day, I noticed that the heads of
the nails in his seat, which was made
of inch board, we're covered with putty.
On removing the putty from one of
them, found that the seat was fastened
with screws instead OF nails With
q screw-drIyer I removed one Of
the side pieces which secured
the legs, and the secret was di.
vulged. The edge of the board
which formed the leg had been mortised
out, making quite araeeptacle, in which
was concealed a set Of keys, fitting all
the locks from his cell door to the
outer one.
sent for him and showed him what
had discovered. His head dropped
for moment, then raising his eyes,
with a look 50 sad and sorrewful that
the impression has not yet passed from
my mind, he said,
Mr.. Warden, thus pointing to the
keys vanish into air hopes that have
buoyed me up for the last three years.
/ have one more, tine key to the outer
door, on which am now at work.
Permit me 10 return to the shop. No
one else can find it, and viii deliver it
up. It is of no use to me now"
The key was found concealed IN the
Aoor under his bench.
/ felt that any punishment had the
power to infict would be slight compar-
ed with what he suffered from the dis
eovery of his plans, and the destruction
Of his hopes Of escape. He was there
fore permitted to return to his work
without being punished
Years passed. Hemaintaind the same
quiet demeanor, giving no trouble, maxi
ing no more attempts TO escape until he
had reached his twelfth year in prison.
The rebellion had broken out, troops
were called for. He became quite In
terested IN the result, and early express
ed desire to take part in the conflict,
that he might, as he said, to some extent
BY his serviceaor even his life, COM
pensate the community for the wrongs